Mandatory winter tires

[lew]

I've been driving for longer that pretty well everyone on this board and have always used winter tires and in my opinion they make a huge difference in both moving and stopping. We've all been stuck behind someone who is trying to get thru a snowstorm with summer tires and it's really maddening. You can also lose control of a vehicle on snow covered roads when using summer tires and slam into some other car.

Quebec has a rule that all cars must have winter tires but I don't know the dates.

Winter tires are very expensive and many folks can't afford them and personally I don't know if they should be mandatory or not. My neighbors were both in their 90's and money was short and they couldn't afford winter tires but 1/2 the time he had trouble getting out of his snow covered driveway.

I'm just curious what others think, should they be mandatory or not and if you think yes, what about the folks that need their car but don't have an extra bag of $$ laying around to buy them.

Edited 7 hours ago by lew

[limeyangler]

30 minutes ago, lew said:

I've been driving for longer that pretty well everyone on this board and have always used winter tires and in my opinion they make a huge difference in both moving and stopping. We've all been stuck behind someone who is trying to get thru a snowstorm with summer tires and it's really maddening. You can also lose control of a vehicle on snow covered roads when using summer tires and slam into some other car.

Quebec has a rule that all cars must have winter tires but I don't know the dates.

Winter tires are very expensive and many folks can't afford them and personally I don't know if they should be mandatory or not. My neighbors were both in their 90's and money was short and they couldn't afford winter tires but 1/2 the time he had trouble getting out of his snow covered driveway.

I'm just curious what others think, should they be mandatory or not and if you think yes, what about the folks that need their car but don't have an extra bag of $$ laying around to buy them.

They definitely make a difference but tire prices are insane! But the thought of losing a loved one is also unthinkable. Maybe some kind of government rebate and reduced insurance premium would help, whether or not it is made mandatory.

[BITEME]

I'm with you on the tires

In my opinion, they should be mandatory I run studded tires in the winter on the coast and saved my backside a few times.

 

[Terry]

It’s hard to argue with that 

but if it’s for safety studs should be allowed again 

And as you say  there are many people who can not afford a second pair of tires 

ahhhh I don’t know.  I can’t vote either way

i I have use winter tires for the wife and me for about 18 years 

[BITEME]

https://thetireman.ca/antares-grip-60-ice-studded-205-55r16-94t/

 

I don't think they deliver to Ontario but I'm sure the same vein is there

cheap I usually get 3 seasons out of summers and 4 for the winters good insurance

[lew]

39 minutes ago, limeyangler said:

 Maybe some kind of government rebate and reduced insurance premium would help, whether or not it is made mandatory.

I get a rebate for having winter tires, I think it's something like 10%

[crappieperchhunter]

I believe I started using winter tires after reading a thread on this board about them. Ten plus years ago for sure. I will never drive in the winter without them, they are a game changer. However I think making them mandatory is a little too much and not because of the cost.  Debbe drove to work everyday at the bank and never had snow tires on her car. City streets all the way and the roads are always plowed. Her  cars  where used to get around in town only. My car with winter tires  was used for the other driving tasks. 

[CrowMan]

I always switch over to winter tires on all my vehicles, and I do agree they should be mandatory in Ontario. When it comes to driving safety, it's often not you, but the other guy.

Actually the added cost really isn't that significant. If you keep your vehicles for a while, to the point that you have to buy new tires regardless once or twice during its lifetime...winter tires will double the life of your all-season tires. Typically in 200k of driving you will go through 2 sets of tires. If one set is all-seasons and one set is winters from the start, the only real added cost is a set of cheap steel rims and the cost of putting them on and off. The reduced premium from my insurance helps with that...so really doesn't cost me anything at all.

 

[Spiel]

100% believer in good winter tires not only on my vehicle but also on my my daughter's vehicles as well and I believe in them enough that I pay to ensure that my daughter's have them on every winter. It's just common sense imo.

PS....my insurer does rebate for having them on. 

[BillM]

I'd run rubber studs if I could.  And I really think it depends on where you live if they should be mandatory or not.  The entire province doesn't get the same weather. 

[Weeds]

Worth noting there’s a ton of used winter tires out there too, on rims and with plenty of life left in them. Picked up a set for my truck last year for 200 bucks and a set for the wife’s for 300. If they save you from even the most insignificant of fender benders they’ve paid for themselves 10 times over. 

[glen]

Years ago they used to clean the roads better.  Now they have downloaded the cost to you in winter tires.  
for people that don’t drive much all weather tires are good.  
some of the lighter vehicles should have winter tires on for sure.  
it’s the cost of tires and rims that’s ridiculous.  

[Fisherman]

I already get a rebate from the insurance company for using winter tires, have been for quite a number of years.  And yes, winter tires should be mandatory, save on accidents, injuries and the cost of insurance going up.